Mid February Update

NEW STARTS

Delivering Spring Blossoms, Homespun Elegance

This is a fun stitch.  I am doing it on a really lovely piece of 28 county Lugana from Silkweaver called Astor.

FINISHES

I finished the Valentine from Sitchy Box on the fabric that was included in their 28 Days of February box. I used GAST Cranberry.

The photos is terrible as far as the fabric color.  

I had to use tea to dye the lavender fabric for this FFO.  The fabric was much more "antiqued" that I thought.

ANOTHER FFO

Thrift store frame.  No glass, so I padded it heavily.

I also framed the Beekeeper by Plum Street Samples.  I used the tea to darken the mat a little.  I got the frame and mat at a local thrift store and the mat was too white.  It is a little better now as it looks a little more brownish/yellow in person.

WIPs

Excursion #1 Scotland, Amy Mitten Designs

Well, I am just sick about the progress of my current sampler that I am enjoying so much.  I did not measure accurately and the fabric is not wide enough as a result.  I am going to make adjustments to the pattern as I simply cannot bear to give up on it and I am certainly not going to frog all that I have done and risk running out of the silk threads.  It will be off-center, but what the heck.  I think I will be OK, but what a mess I made for myself.  I am hoping it does not damped my enthusiasm for this piece.  So I have decided to complete the house which is the main focus of the piece, then the border  and worry about the other motifs when I figure out how much room I will actually have.

I think that is it until March.   While I think I am enjoying the Stitch from Stash 2017A (as is my budget)  I am missing the package deliveries.  Crazy isn't it.  I am also trying to keep my WIPs down and I think I am getting a little bored.  I also realize that I do not have a Chatelaine piece going.....perhaps I will start one in March.

Thanks for visiting.

Finally February

January was not bad as far as productivity.

Stitch From Stash 2017A

I was able to get through the entire month without any stash purchases, and I got $26.00 credit for finishes.  So I begin February with $46.00 and my February budget of $20.00 for a grand total of $66.00.  Go Me.  Hoping I can have another month of no purchases and making progress on some old projects.




MONTHLY NEW STARTS

 Breath of Spring by BlackBird Designs

28 Count Woodvine Jobelan (very definitely a lilac color) using Gentle Arts and Weeks Dye Works cotton threads 2 over 2.

Sampler Excursion #1 Scotland from Amy Mitten.

32 Count Linen, "Fibers to Dye For" silk threads 1 over 2.

I got this kit last year and it comes with everything.....linen, silks, even a needle.  My only issue is all the initials called for in the pattern.  It will take some thought on my part about how to actually do the initials.

WsIP

I am still enjoying the Mystery SAL from Linens & Threads.  Will be making the color choices as each band is released (monthly) using threads from my stash that I have in multiple skeins.  It looks like it is going to be basically a green, gold and brown piece.  This month's band is quite a bit smaller and more manageable so it did not take me too long.

I am caught up on the Under the Sea SAL by Ship's Manor.

FINISHES

Books Reading Books, HAED

Completed Page 15 which is just abouth half way.  I am in year to of this project and my goal is to give it a little more love this year.



Dancing Deer, Cherished Stitches

I thoroughly enjoyed this.  The colors are just fantstic.  I left off the wording at the bottom and hope that by the time I get ready to fully finish it I will have some idea what I want to put there.

I also made a pillow out of a December 2016 finish, Reindeer Games.  It need some emblishment, but I am going to wait until next Christmas when I am more inspired as I think is really needs something.

I am not all that thrilled with how it turned out.  I think I left too much of the linen fabric on the sides.   I used a pillow form .   By the time next Christmas rolls around I may be in the mood to re-finish it.


Completed a couple of ornaments so far this month.  I think because the two releases on the SALs were small I was a little out of sorts at the beginning of the month.  I found myself wanting to do some February/Valentine themed projects, but new purchases are not in the budget, so I got a freebie and did a small ornament.

That is it so far this month.

I am finding that the Stitch From Stash is carrying over to other parts of my life also.  I am a little more conscious about what I am putting in my Amazon basket these days.

Thanks for visiting and Happy Stitching.

So Far So Good

Stitch from Stash 2017A

So far no purchases and no more new starts.

FINISH


Ye Old Coffee House, Little House Needleworks

I enjoyed this, but I must have frogged twenty times and miscounted as many.  How this simple looking project turned out to be so difficult is beyond me.  But, it is done, my first finish for 2017
I made several counting errors and added the coffee cup above the house where it was charted for a heart.

My monthly ornament and  FFO of an old ornament.

That give me $12.00 credit for this month so far in my Stitch from Stash Budget.





SALs

Beautiful Sea, Ships Manor

Was able to get caught up the first week of the new year and just finished part 8 so I am all caught up.  Really enjoying the colors of this.

2017 Mystery Sampler, Linen & Thread

Since I am stitching from stash for the first 6 months of this year, I pulled any DMC of which I had more than 10 skeins and pulled a piece of 32 count Platinum Belfast linen.  I am hoping to have the left side finished today.  The second band comes out the first part of February and I would like to stay caught up, but who knows.  Those large empty spaces are for bird looking things that I think I will do in a different color.  I may wait until the second band comes out before deciding what color.

WsIP


Alice Merryfield, Pineberry Lane

I worked on this for the "red" weekend challenge (Jan 13-15) so I got a little further on it and want to finish out the red part of the border this weekend.  I am probably going to replace the very pale color as it just is not showing up on this fabric.

Dancing Deer, Cherished Stitches

I am still amazed by the colors in this piece when I step back and look at it.

But Happy They Wedding Sampler, Cherished Stitches

I wish I could say I was enjoying this.  It may end up at a UFO by the end of the month.  It just is not holding my interest, although I do like the fabric.  I should probably make up my mind before I get to the personalization portion!

That is it for the first two weeks of the year.  I have a pile of finished things from last year that I would really like to get completely finished, but I just have not been in the mood for finishing.

Thanks so much for visiting.

Welcome to 2017

First Things First:  Happy 10th Birthday to my sweet little Jasmine all curled up after destroying the bed!  She was not too happy that I uncovered her to take her photo......

I am doing Stitch From Stash 2017A.  It is stitching only from what I have on hand and sticking to a budget for the first six months of the year.  I have so many things I want to complete this year and I know I have more projects that I will live long enough to finish!



New Start 

Ye Old Coffee House, Little House Needleworks

Am doing this with the called for DMC on 28 count Clay jobelan and I love the fabric.  Unfortunately, however, the frog has been visiting me on this project so it is really dragging.  I am going to change out the heart at the top to a coffee cup.....I am not a huge "heart" fan.  I also am thinking about changing the date to the date we moved into our house in Blanco, Texas since that is where I plan to hang it......




Beautiful Sea Sampler SAL, Ships's Manor

I am determined to catch up on the Beautiful Sea Sampler SAL.   I am into part four so I am just about halfway caught up!    I am doing it on 28 Count Mystic Lugana with the Ship's Manor threads.  They are really great colors and I am enjoying it.  I cannot wait to be caught up.

Linen & Threads 2017 Mystery Band Sampler

This is a free pattern from Linen and Threads and it looks like it is going to be a year long project.  I have a piece of 32 count belfast in Platinum that I am going to use.  My dilemma is the threads.  It takes about 30 skeins and I am stitching from stash this year.  I went through and pulled all the DMC colors that I had over 10 skeins and they are mostly greens, golds and a little brown. I think it would be pretty, but I am so bad at deciding colors I am kind of nervous to start it.  I really do not want to fall behind (comes out monthly) so I gotta just go for it!  If I use the greens I may put the Evergreen Sampler on hold since it is alot of green.

WIPS

Here is where I am starting this year.  No photos as I have not made any progress on any of them.   With the new starts that give me about 8 WIPs which I think is plenty for a month or so!

Dancing Deer, Cherished Stitches

Evergreen Sampler, Good Housekeeping Christmas Book

Alice Merryfield, Pineberry Lane

But Happy They, Homespun Elegance

Books Reading Books, HAED

Knot Garden, Chatelaine



Thank you for visiting.  I hope your new year has had a great beginning.

November News

I hae been concentrating on Christmas stitching this month.  I have several things I want to do and a couple of gifts in the works.


FINISH

Comet, Nora Corbet

Interestingly, I did not enjoy stitching this and I am not that happy about how it turned out.   I have another one of the reindeer but I doubt I will do it this year.  Perhaps the fabric is the problem.......and that "Whisper" thread (used on the tail to supposedly make it fuzzy)....I am not impressed.

WIPS


Woodland Wonder, Glendon Place

I am truly enjoying this piece but the counting has given me fits.  I should have gridded at least the top portion because there are some errors in the antlers.  No one would notice.  Also, because the fabric is so sparkly, I do not think I an going to use the Kreinik on the snowflakes.  I will decide once I start beading it.

The BeeKeeper, Plum Street Samplers

Coming along nicely though not very quickly.

NEW START

Mermaid Letters, Nora Corbet

I did the grandgirls' first initials in Nora Corbet Fairy Letters for last Christmas, so this year I am doing their middle initials in the mermaid letters.  These are really nice to stitch.  They go pretty quickly and the charts are very well done.  Of course there is alot of beading, but it is so worth it once they are done.

Beautiful Sea SAL, Ship's Manor

I got the threads for this SAL but have not started it.  I am in a delimma about the fabric.  I am leaning toward the darker color because it would be a change of pace for me.  I am waiting, however, for the third and possibly fourth portion to come out before I start it so I can see what is going to happen across the top.  I am not sure why I joined this.  I do not really like mystery projects at all.

 The weather has been so amazing here and all the critters are out for their final escapades before winter hits.  Jasmine enjoys chasing the deer that like to visit us.  It gives her a good chance to run and I enjoy watching her.  Today, however, she surprised me by coming in covered, and mean covered, with goose poop.  At least I caught her before she crawled up in the middle of the bed!

Today I had to turn on the heater, so it is time to get back to California.  We are leaving Tuesday and heading West, so I am getting things packed and getting the house ready to go.  No too much stitching going on for a next few days.

I have decided to Stitch from Stash for 2017.  I have about 50 project kitted and ready to go so I certainly do not need anything.  That is my plan anyway.  There is a group of  stitchers doing the same thing.  If I can not careful things get totally out of control!  Internet shopping is WAY to easy.  This really becomes obvious when I pack up all the stitching stuff because I cannot leave it here!  It is two HUGE plastic totes full.  Kind of silly.  And, I am leaving summer stitching here at least.